Lorraine Clifford-Lee was eliminated from the Cultural and Educational panel of the Seanad by an incredibly narrow margin of just 0.676 of a vote. A recount requested by Clifford-Lee confirmed the original result, ending her tenure as a sitting senator since 2016.
The first day of vocational panel counting saw significant developments, with Malcolm Noonan (Green Party), Joanne Collins (Sinn Féin), and Victor Boyhan (Independent) elected to the Agricultural panel. On the Cultural and Educational panel, Sinn Féin’s Pauline Tully, Seán Kyne (Fine Gael), Cathal Byrne (Fine Gael), Shane Curley (Fianna Fáil), and Joe Conway (Independent) secured seats.
According to The Journal, a separate drama unfolded in the Trinity College constituency, where Green Party candidate Hazel Chu requested a full recount after being just 31 votes behind independent candidate Aubrey McCarthy for the final seat.
The National University of Ireland panel saw all three incumbent independent senators – Michael McDowell, Rónán Mullen, and Alice Mary Higgins – re-elected.
Counting will continue through the weekend, with full vocational panel results expected by Monday. The Taoiseach will then have the opportunity to appoint 11 additional senators to ensure government representation.